It's Halloween weekend in Cold Spring. Saturday evening, costumed kids, families, and giant puppets take over Main Street for the 33rd annual Halloween Parade, and the days around it are full of history, music, and a few friendly horses in costume. Here are the picks for October 23–25.
Some events require tickets or registration. Check each listing before you go.
Don't Miss: Saturday, October 24
Cold Spring Halloween Parade · 4:30 PM line-up · 5 PM parade
The big one. Line up on the lawn of St. Mary-in-the-Highlands at 4:30, and at 5 the 33rd annual parade of costumed kids, families, and giant puppets marches down Main Street to the riverfront. Look for this year's giant puppet of Pete Seeger's Sam the Whaler. Free.
Friday, October 23
Mahjong Meetup · 10:30 AM
The Desmond-Fish Library in Garrison sets up two tables, one for experienced players and one for anyone learning, so all skill levels are welcome. It meets in the outdoor pavilion or indoors, depending on the weather. Please register so the library knows you're coming.
Historic Cemetery Tour · 3:30 & 5 PM · $15
The Putnam History Museum leads a walk through the Mountain Avenue and Nelsonville cemeteries, telling the stories behind the stones of early settlers, poets, and Civil War veterans. Meet at the Mountain Avenue Cemetery gate on Craigside Drive, behind Haldane Elementary School. A fitting outing for Halloween week.
ROOTS Art Exhibition Panel · 4 PM
Artists from Rooted: Art and the Natural World talk about their work in a panel led by featured artist Lauren Adelman and the Garrison Art Center team, at the Desmond-Fish Library. The exhibition, about how we connect with land, material, and time, closes on Sunday, so this is a good chance to see it. Free.
Horse-O-Ween · 4–6 PM · $10 / $25 family
Come in costume and trick-or-treat down the barn aisle at Topfield Equestrian Center, where the horses dress up too. There's a raffle, and every ticket helps care for the horses. It's $10 a person or $25 for a family of up to six.
Saturday, October 24
Cold Spring Farmers' Market · 9 AM–1 PM
Start the day on the grounds of Boscobel, where regional farmers and makers sell apples, squash, bread, cheese, and pasture-raised meat and eggs. SNAP/EBT is accepted.
Oxalis Trio at St. Mary's · 2 PM
Music at St. Mary's brings the Oxalis Trio, with Carl Gutowski on flute, Zachary Pulse on oboe, and Alexandra Beliakovich on piano, to St. Mary-in-the-Highlands. The program runs from the Baroque to the 20th century. It's free, and donations are welcome.
Neither Here Nor There · 2 PM
Ahead of National Immigrants Day, psychotherapist and anthropologist Leide Porcu presents her book on the inner experience of migration at Magazzino Italian Art, alongside Marco Anelli's portraits of new Americans photographed just after their naturalization ceremonies. Free with museum admission.
Meet the Author: Lisajoy Sachs · 2:30 PM
Historical novelist Lisajoy Sachs reads from Bright One, her six-volume series inspired by her family's Jewish history, and signs books at the Butterfield Library. Free; register on the library calendar.
Manitoga in Focus: Carlton Davis · 3–5 PM · $50
Resident photographer Carlton Davis leads a walk along the Quarry Pool Path at Russel Wright's Manitoga and talks about his exhibit Contemplation: A Portrait of Manitoga. The tour goes inside the House, Studio, and Design Gallery. Book ahead.
Historic Cemetery Tour · 3:30 & 5 PM · $15
Missed Friday? The Putnam History Museum runs its cemetery tours again today, from the same gate on Craigside Drive. The 3:30 tour still leaves time to get to the parade.
Sunday, October 25
Castle to River Race · 9 AM · $5–$65
The 15th annual race benefits the Friends of Philipstown Recreation. Runners choose a half marathon through Hudson Highlands State Park ($65), a 5K along part of Benedict Arnold's escape route ($45), or a costumed kids' fun run on the Recreation Center grounds ($5). Register online, or come cheer at the Philipstown Community Center in Garrison.
Spooktacular Halloween · 11 AM–2 PM · $15 per child
Magazzino Italian Art's Family Day turns the Education Center into a Halloween craft studio. Costumes are encouraged (no props that look like weapons). Tickets are $15 per child ($10 for members) and include museum admission; each child needs an accompanying adult with their own admission.
Why Your Home Feels Off · 12:30 PM
Interior designer Christine Ortiz shows how to see your space the way a designer does, covering function, flow, scale, light, and personality, at the Butterfield Library. Free; register on the library calendar.
If Anyone Builds It, Does · 2 PM
Just in time for Halloween, the Desmond-Fish Library's Spotlight on AI series takes on the spookiest claims about artificial intelligence, from conscious models to "evil" robot superhackers, and helps separate fact from fiction. Free.
Planning your weekend? Tap Xen at the bottom of the page and ask for help fitting it all in.